Samarth Ramdas

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Ramdas
Ramdas

Rāmdās (Devanagari: रामदास) (1608-1681) was a prominent Marāthi (मराठी) religious poet in the Hindu tradition in Mahārāshtra (महाराष्ट्र), India.

There is a myth that Ramdas was a devotee of Hindu Gods Hanumān (हनुमान) and Rāma (राम).


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[edit] Early life

Ramdas was born in a Deshastha Rugvedi Brāhman family to Suryāji (सूर्याजी) and Rānu Bāi (राणूबाई) Thosar (ठोसर) in Jāmb (जांब) in Jālna District (जालना जिल्हा) of Maharashtra on Ram Navami, 1530 (रामनवमी, चैत्र शुद्ध ९, १५३०) according to "Shāliwāhan Shak" (शालिवाहन शक) calendar. His given name was Nārāyan (नारायण). (At age 24, he assumed the name Rāmdās.)

Since his childhood, Ramdas had an inclination toward metaphysical contemplation and religiosity. When he was eight, his father died; and at his age 12, his mother arranged his marriage to her brother's daughter. However, he wanted to pursue a monasitc life, and so just as the wedding cermony was proceeding, he ran away before the marriage vows were exchanged. Due to this he is being called as 'Bhagoda' in Marathwada Region of Maharashtra.

[edit] Spiritual Development

For the next twelve years, Ramdas devoted himself to study of Hindu religious books, meditation, and prayers in a place named Panchawati (पंचवटी) --near Nāshik (नािशक)-- on the banks of Godāwari (गोदावरी) river.

[edit] Writings

Ramdas was a gifted composer. He produced considerable lucid and effective literature in verse form in Marathi.

Among his works, two compositions particularly stand out: A small book of meditations titled “Manāche Shlok” (मनाचे श्लोक), which consists of 205 memorable four-line verses, and a large volume titled Dāsabodh (दासबोध), which consists of 7,751 so-called “owi” (ओव्या). Dasabodh provides sagacious advice on both spiritual and diverse practical topics.



[edit] Sajjangad

Shivaji and Ramdas first met in 1674, Ramdas accepting Shivaji then as his spiritual guru. Shivaji made available to Ramdas a fort named Parali Fort to establish his permanent monastery there. The fort was subsequently renamed as “Sajjangad” (सज्जनगड).

[edit] References

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Hinduism